August lindgren



(Ille Model.) l

A. LINDGREN.

WHEEL ULTIVATOR.

Patented Jan. 5, .1886.l

` UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.'

AUGUST LINDGREN, OF MOLINE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE MOLIN E PLOWOOOMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

WHEEL-CULTIVATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 333,766, dated January 5, 1886.

Application tiled September 5, 1885. Serial No. 176,220. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, AUGUsT LINDGREN, of Moline, in the county of Rock Island and State of Illinois, have invented certain Improvements in Wheeled Oultivators, of which the following is a specification.

Wheeled cultivators as commonly used at the present day are of three principal types: rst, those known as straddle-row culti- Vaters, in which the shovel-beams are j ointed to a rigid wheeled frame secured firmly to the draft-pole or tongue; second, those known as parallel cultivators, in which the beams are connected with the tongue through the medium of a jointed or swiveling frame in such manner that each beam may receive its separate draft devices, and may move forward and backward independently of the other; third, tongueless cultivators,in which the beams are jointed to a iiexible or swiveled frame and provided with draft devices of such character that a tongue or draftpole is dispensed with and the beams permitted to move forward and backward independently of each other.

lt is the aim of my invention to produce a simple machine which may be instantly adjusted to answer the purpose of either one of the three classes of machines above mentioned, as the condition of the soil or other controlling circumstances may render desirable.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a perspective View of my machine as seen from the front. Fig. 2 is a similar view looking from the rear and from the opposite side.

A represents an arched or n-shaped axle,of wrought or cast metal, as preferred, bolted at its lower extremities to the inner ends of two open rectangular castings, a, which extend outward in opposite directions and constitute in effect continuations of the axle. Each of these castings a is formed at the outer end with a tubular post or socket, b, which receives the upper end of an axle, c, the lower portion of which is extended outward horizontally to receive the ground-wheel d. By this arrangement of parts the two wheels are permitted to swing or swivel in a horizontal direction independently of each other while giving support to the two sides of the axle or frame. Each ofthe axles has its upright j ournal provided 0n the upper end with a forwardly-extending arm, f, with a perforated ear at its forward end. This arm serves as a means of turning the axle about its vertical axis, and thus determining the path in which the wheel shall travel.

Through the ear of each steering-arm f is extended a rod, g, the forward end of which carries the single-tree or other draft device, h, while its rear end is hooked or jointed to a plate, r,which is in turn connected by a vertical pivot, j, to a horizontal rock-shaft, k, having its ends formed into journals, which are seated in bearings at the sides of the frame or casting a. The rock-shaft thus applied supports and carries the plate t', which communicates the draft or propelling power from the draft-rod g to the axle or frame to cause the advance of the machine. On directing either draft-animal to the right or left the draft-rod g, acting on the arm f, will cause the adjacent wheel to be turned in like manner, so as to follow directly in the path of the animal. The vertical pivot j permits the plate z' to swing laterally with the draft-rod, thus affording free action of the parts; but the plate i may besecured rigidly to the rock-shaft, if preferred. To the rock-shaft there is bolted rmly but adjustably a vertical plate, n, which is connected by a vertical pivot to the arms of a forked draw-head, o, bolted rigidly to the forward end of a shovel-carrying beam or beamsfv p, frequently designated as the plow.7 The vertical pivot permits the beam to swing lat-1l erally, while the rotation of the rock-shaft permits it to swing vertically, in order tof raise and lower the shovels in a manner familiar to those skilled in the art.

In order to assist the operator in lifting the beams, I provide each rock-shaft with an upright arm, r, and connect theretoa rod, s,passing upward through a guide on the axle and surrounded by a spiral spring, t, which b y 9 urging the rod and arm downward tends to' turn the rock-shaft in aforward direction and thereby cause an elevation of the beams. This spring-connection is similar in its general arrangement to those used in existing IOC ed as of the present center, I connect by a vertical pivot, u, the rear end of the tongue or draft-polen, and in order that this bolt may serve to maintain the axle in an upright position and prevent it from tipping forward or backward, I bolt to the sides of the axle the ends of a U-shaped bar, w, the forward portion of which is curved in the arc of a circle described from the pivot u, and arranged to slide through an eye or clip bolt on the under side of the tongue. While this bar permits the frame to turn or swivel about the pivot u, so that the tvo beams may move forward and backward with reference to each other, it serves as an efcient brace to prevent the falling of the axle.

The pivot u may be attached to the axle in any appropriate manner; but I prefer to secure it thereto by means of a clip-bolt, such as shown in the drawings.

The eye-bolt or stirrnp t has one or both of its ends extended upward through the axle and provided with fastening-nuts on the upper end, whereby it may be adjusted tightly upon the bar w, so as to lock theframerigidly to the tongue and prevent the turning or Swiveing action.

Each of the wheel-controlling arms f is pro- 'vided with a hook, x, which may be engaged at will in a hole formed for the purpose in the frame or casting a, so as to lock the arm and axle against rotary motion, and thus prevent the horizontal swiveling action ofthe wheels.

'Ihe plates i, into which the draft-rods are engaged, are provided with a series of holes at diiierent heights, so that the rod may be attached above or on a level with the axis of the shaft, and thus the draft applied to control the rock-shaft and assist in lifting, depressing, or holding the beams, as may be demanded. This feature may, however, be omitted and the draft-rods secured permanently in position.

When the machine is required to operate as an ordinary straddle-row cultivator with a rigid frame, the hooks are engaged to prevent the swiveling action of the wheel, and the stirrupt tightened to prevent the swiveling action of the frame. When the parts are thus adjusted, the machine will operate in the same manneras those of ordinary form having rigid frames.

When .a parallel cultivator with a tongue is required, the stirrup t is loosened and the hooks disengaged, leaving the wheels and the frame free to receive the swiveling movement as the draft is increased on one side or the other.

When a tongueless cultivator is required, the tongue is unbolted and removed, and the springs detached in order that they may have no tendency to tip the axle backward. When the draft. is applied, it will scrveto maintain the axle in an upright position.

While I prefer to connect the beams with the rock-shaft by the peculiar couplings herein shown, and which are in themselves old, I may substitute therefor any other appropriate coupling.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a wheel-cultivator, the combination, substantially as described, of the following elements: an arched frame, wheel carrying axles jointed to the frame to turn horizontally, locking devices to secure the axles rigidly to the frame, a tongue or draft-pole pivoted to the frame to swing horizontally, and means, substantially as described, for locking the tongue rigidly to the frame.

2. In a wheeled cultivator, the combination ofthe arched frame or axle having the shovelbeamsjointed thereto, the draft-pole or tongue pivoted to said axle, and the curved bar w, connecting the tongue and axle, whereby it is prevented from falling forward or backward, but permitted to swivel freely beneath the tongue.

3. The wheeled main frame having shovelbeams jointed thereto, in combination with the draft-pole pivoted to said frame, the bar w, attached to the frame, and means, substantially as described, for locking said bar to the tongue.

4. The main frame,the wheels swiveled thereto to swing horizontally, and the wheeled guiding-armsf, in combination with the rock shaft having the tubular beams attached, and the draft-rods g, passing through the guide-arms to the rock-shaft, as described, whereby the draft-rods are caused to serve the double purpose of directing the wheels and of influencing the vertical movement of the beams.

5. The combination of the frame, the swiveling axle c, the arm f, rock-shalt k, draft-rod g, and plate t', the latter connected to the rockshaft by a vertical pivot, as described, that it may follow the direction of the draft-rod.

6. In combination with the arched axle, the open rectangular frame a, bolted to its ends, and each provided with a vertical socket, b, to receive the axle, and with two bearings to sustain the ends of the rock-shaft k.

7. In combination with the wheeled frame and the tongue pivoted thereto, the connecting bar w, attached to the frame, and having its ends extended rearward to form supports for the shovel-beams.

In testimony whereoi` I hereunto set my hand, this 31st day of July, 1885, in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

AUGUST LINDGREN.

Witnesses:

G. G. ANDERsON, A.. S. CARSON.

IOO 

